Maura Higgins has sparked a feud on Dancing With The Stars after publicly stating she does not want professional dancer Gleb Savchenko as her partner. The Love Island star, who is joining the US show, made her feelings clear during an interview.
Higgins said she would be happy to work with Mark Ballas or Val Chmerkovskiy but firmly ruled out Savchenko. "I’m okay to have anyone else – I just don’t want Gleb," she stated. She explained that her loyalty lies with her friend Brooks Nader, who had a messy breakup with Savchenko after they met on the show in 2024.
Savchenko previously made controversial comments about their intimate life, claiming it was the "worst sex of his life." Nader later discussed their relationship on Olivia Attwood's podcast, calling him "bitter" and accusing him of cheating, which he denied. Higgins confirmed she is "on Brooks’ side" and a "loyalist."
The pair dated from 2024 to April 2025, with a split reportedly due to alleged infidelity. Savchenko has denied the cheating claims.
